Question about a vx thats been sitting for 1.5 years

[rsteinmetz70112]

Definitely put some water absorber in the gas tank. If the tank isn't full put new high octane high quality gas in it ASAP. If it's full you may want to add a fuel stabilizer/fuel system cleaner/octane enhancer. It's possible that the light fraction in the gas which helps it start have evaporated.

Check tires carefully, sitting uncovered it's possible the fabric has absorbed water and that can cause separation at highway speed. If you decide to drive on them take it easy and stop and check frequently. I would probably try to drive on them myself and see if they are ok. I've had several tires delaminate on me and aside from an adrenaline rush and some sweating on the side of the road I've never felt there was much danger. I've always been able to sort of feel it coming.

Battery - of course it's discharged and you may be able to recharge it, but maybe not. Take a charger and cables, or a new battery.

When you change the oil look at the oil you drain out for anything suspicious.

18 months isn't that long and it will probably be OK. I cousin once bought an MGA that had been sitting in a barn for several years. He change the oil, battery and gas then drove it home.

[Slideways]

I am going to go over every piece of rubber. Brake lines included. Vermin is a worry but I am going to look it over carefully before taking off. The tire thing worrys me but I think if I take the back roads home I can just take it slow and it should be ok.

I say 18 months it may have been shorter. And she said her dad added stabil to the tank at some point. I think the battery was already dead at that point which is why he didn't start it. Either way headed down with some clean 91 gas and several other fluids to try and get it going.

Thanks for the info! I look forward to getting it cleaned up and posting some pics. Maybe making it out to Moab for the next meet there.

[Slideways]

So got the vehicross started. Covered all the basics and it turned out fine. After reconnecting the ignition it fired on the first try.

Question though. In my intro thread someone mentioned a mode switch for the trans. After searching the symptoms I am 99% sure mine is bad. I was wondering where to get one and I seen price ranges vary. Someone said $40. Someone said they paid $138. Anyone know where to get the $40 one?

[rsteinmetz70112]

Congratulations, Were you able to drive it home?

[samneil2000]

So got the vehicross started. Covered all the basics and it turned out fine. After reconnecting the ignition it fired on the first try.

Question though. In my intro thread someone mentioned a mode switch for the trans. After searching the symptoms I am 99% sure mine is bad. I was wondering where to get one and I seen price ranges vary. Someone said $40. Someone said they paid $138. Anyone know where to get the $40 one?

Before you buy a mode switch, might want to try to clean the original one. Members here have had some success with that. Much cheaper too.

Congrats, by the way.

[Slideways]

ok maybe I'm an idiot but I've searched several times and can't find the mode switch cleaning thread. Can someone who has seen it recently link it for me? You will be rewarded with some pics of the creepy cridders that were living in the vx. Just in time for halloween. Hint; there was a spider that could have picked up the vx and walked away. 0.0

[samneil2000]

This might help
http://www.vehicross.info/forums/showthread.php?t=14031

[Slideways]

Here is a few pics of the dirtyness.

[Slideways]

one more of it dirty.



And one at the car wash. Where I spent $10 spraying and vacuuming it.